Woodstock Willie predicts an early spring

Written on February 4, 2025.

Groundhog Days ends with a bang and a good spring forecast

Woodstock Groundhog Days ended in spectacular fashion Sunday morning, with people packing the Square to hear Woodstock Willie proclaim an early spring.

This year’s four-day bash was really special, from a return visit by Groundhog Day actor Stephen Tobolowsky to the debut of the new Woodstock Willie, an eight-month-old groundhog named Chooch – his predecessor, Woodstock Wendy, recently passed away at the ripe old age of nine.

We understand that Woodstock Willie’s forecast will bum out our winter activity enthusiasts. On the other hand, it’s been a winter of arctic cold winds and no snow, and our snowmobiles and cross-country skis have been gathering dust, so as far as we at McH Thrive are concerned, bring on spring.

If you’re looking for photo and video highlights of this year’s festivities, check out the Woodstock Groundhog Days website and its Facebook page.

Applications being taken for summer manufacturing internships

Do you know a McHenry County high school student interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing? Your future can start now – the application period is now open for the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium’s summer 2025 Internship Program!

The 10-week paid internship program is open to all county high school students, age 16-18, who are interested in a career in manufacturing or engineering. Students will be paired with local manufacturers and be paid $16 an hour while gaining invaluable work experience in an exciting and lucrative field. No previous work experience is necessary.

Now in its fourth year, about 280 students have participated with 33 area manufacturers to date – and a number of them have not only found their calling, but also got hired full-time by the company they interned with!

Click here to learn more and apply before the March 14 deadline – you can email mfgpathways@gmail.com with any questions.

A $717,300 grant through Advance McHenry County helped fund the program’s launch and its first three years of operation – the Illinois Community College Board has graciously agreed to fund it moving forward.

McHenry County College delivers ESL classes to Amazon employees

McHenry County College recently partnered with Amazon to offer English as a Second Language courses to employees at the Amazon Fulfillment Center, in Huntley.

The college offered two evening ESL classes at the facility for the fall semester that ended in December, and about 60 employees enrolled.

The college, by providing on-site education, helps employees overcome scheduling and travel challenges to ensure they have opportunities to grow and learn.

You can read more about the Amazon classes by clicking here, and you can click here to learn more about MCC’s ESL and other adult education programs.

Help make our roads safer by taking the CMAP safe travel survey

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning needs your input to improve travel safety for everyone.

It’s leading the Safe Travel for All initiative to craft safety action plans for McHenry, Cook and the other collar counties to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. Also, completing these plans will open up opportunities for counties and municipalities to apply for federal traffic safety improvement funding.

They need your help to identify safety hotspots and prioritize issues needing attention – whether you’re navigating busy intersections or bicycling on local trails, your feedback matters.

Click here to visit the page for the McHenry County Safety Action Plan, where you can drop pins on a safety hotspot map, take a traffic safety survey, and sign up for project updates and notifications for events and open houses.

Huntley Chamber schedules Community Expo for March 15

Be sure to join the Huntley Area Chamber of Commerce from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 15, for the annual Community Expo.

Seventy vendor booths will fill the gym of the Huntley Park District building – come on down to discover local businesses and civic organizations while creating valuable connections within the Huntley community.

The event is free, and everyone is encouraged to visit. If you’re a vendor who would like to set up a table, you can do so by clicking here.

Insider Guide is a great local vacation resource

Last Tuesday was National Plan Your Vacation Day – sorry we missed it by a week, but better later than never!

If you’re looking for inspiration to make your next vacation unforgettable, be sure to check out the new 2025 Naturally McHenry County Insider Guide.

This ultimate guide is filled with seasonal activities, can’t-miss events, and hidden gems that make McHenry County the perfect getaway destination, whether you’re looking for a full vacation or a weekend trip.

And best of all, it’s absolutely free! You can request a copy by clicking here, which also offers a link to an electronic version.

We hope you found this newsletter informative. If you’re not a subscriber, click here to join the McHenry County Government Constant Contact list.

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What is McH Thrive?

McH Thrive is a collaborative initiative being implemented by McHenry County and the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) in partnership with the McHenry County community, including cities and villages, businesses and residents.